Thursday forecast: Gusty with wind chills in 20s

December 27, 2012|By Scott Dance, The Baltimore Sun

4:15 p.m. UPDATE: The wind advisory for the Baltimore region has been canceled. Gusts at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport topped out at 43 mph Thursday afternoon. Winds are expected to diminish in the later afternoon and evening hours. Original post continues below, updated as of 1 p.m.

A wind advisory warning is in effect from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. for the greater Baltimore metro area. Northwest winds of 25 mph to 35 mph can be expected along with gusts of up to 55 mph, which could down trees and affect power lines, the Weather Service said.

The strong gusts could also make driving difficult.

Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. officials said they are prepared to respond to power outages if the high winds knock down trees and power lines. About 700 BGE customers were without power as of 12:45 p.m., with more than 7,500 outages restored, according to BGE's outage map.

A gale warning is also in effect on Thursday for Maryland portions of the Chesapeake Bay and tidal Potomac River before shifting to a small craft advisory at night.

Highs are forecast around 40 degrees, but with the wind chill, temperatures are forecast to feel like about 28 degrees by the afternoon.

After a chance of showers in the early morning, skies are expected to clear by the evening.

Friday, winds are expected to calm but temperatures will still be cold in the 30s, with wind chills around freezing. Late Friday into Saturday morning brings a chance for snow and wintry precipitation throughout the day Saturday.